Accident Overview
On a flight from Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport to Macará, a twin-engine aircraft with dual registration HC-BHG and FAE001A struck the slope of Mount Huayra Pungo, located 40 km north of Macará. The accident occurred around noon while the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 7,700 feet in marginal weather conditions. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire, resulting in the deaths of all nine occupants.
Occupants
The aircraft carried six passengers and three crew members. Among the passengers was Jaime Roldós Aguilera, President of the Republic of Ecuador, who was making an official visit to the southern region of Ecuador. Also aboard were Mrs. Martha Bucaram (the President's spouse), Mr. Marco Aurelio Subía Martinez (Minister of Defense), Mrs. Gladys Irlanda Sarango (the Minister's spouse), Mr. Armando Arsenio Navarrete, and Col Héctor Alfredo Torres Velázques. The crew consisted of pilot Col Marco Andrade Buitrón, copilot Lt Galo Romo Altamirano, and stewardess María Soledad Zapata.
Investigation and Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the exact cause of the accident could not be established with certainty because the aircraft was not equipped with any recording equipment. However, the Ecuadorian Air Force attributed the accident to a controlled flight into terrain caused by a navigational error on the part of the flying crew while flying in limited visibility due to marginal weather conditions.